THIRD-PERIOD OUTBURST LIFTS TEAM CANADA INTO WORLD CUP OF HOCKEY FINAL

Down 2-1, Team Canada scored four consecutive goals – including three in the third period – to defeat Team Russia and advance to the final of the World Cup of Hockey 2016.

Team Canada improved to 8-3-2 in 13 all-time meetings with Team Russia/USSR in the World Cup of Hockey/Canada Cup. This marked the first time the countries met in an elimination game in such a tournament since 1987, when the Canadians won Game 3 of the Canada Cup final, 6-5, on a goal by Mario Lemieux with 1:26 remaining in regulation (off a pass from Wayne Gretzky).

The line of Sidney Crosby (1-2—3), Brad Marchand (2-0—2) and Patrice Bergeron(0-2—2) combined for 3-4—7, including the tying and go-ahead goals by Marchand. Overall, that unit has totaled 8-8—16 in four games this tournament (Crosby: 3-4—7, Marchand: 3-2—5, Bergeron: 2-2—4).

Babcock on the role of goaltending and Canada’s high-shooting games – “The goaltenders [at this event] are spectacular, so they can hold the fort for a long period of time. The first time we played the Russians, it took us until the third and then to overtime to win. So, today, we got there a little quicker, but still, Bob [Sergei Bobrovsky] was unreal.”

Crosby registered the opening goal for the third time in the Team Canada’s four games (also vs. CZE and EUR). Teams that score first improved to 11-2 thus far during the World Cup of Hockey 2016.

Team Canada has advanced to the final of the World Cup of Hockey/Canada Cup for the eighth time in as many such tournaments (won in 1976, 1984, 1987, 1991 and 2004).

Team Canada continued its dominance thus far during the World Cup of Hockey 2016, leading for 39:51 and trailing for just 1:12. Overall, Team Canada has led for 83.9% of its total playing time during the tournament:

• Leading – 201:19 (83.9%)
• Trailing – 2:41 (1.1%)
• Tied – 36:00 (15.0%)

SATURDAY’S RESULT
Home Team in Caps
TEAM CANADA 5, Team Russia 3

SNEAK PEEK AT SUNDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Team Europe @ Team Sweden, 1 p.m.

TEAM SWEDEN, TEAM EUROPE BATTLE FOR OTHER SPOT IN FINAL

Team Sweden and Team Europe battle for the other spot in the final of the World Cup of Hockey 2016 when they meet in a matinee Sunday. Team Sweden is looking to face Team Canada in the final for the second consecutive best-on-best international tournament; in 2014, the Canadians defeated the Swedes, 3-0, in the gold-medal game of the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. Team Europe – a pan-European roster of players from birth countries outside of the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia and Sweden – is trying to punctuate its tournament debut with a trip to the final, which begins Tuesday.

Final Series Schedule

Tuesday, Sep 27. 8:00 PM ET

Thursday, Sep 29, 8:00 PM ET

Saturday, Oct 1, 7:00 PM ET